Boats

Swift Trawler 50

The giant French boatbuilder Beneteau is often thought of as a sailboat company, but in fact, it is quite adept at turning out stylish and seaworthy motoryachts that lie within a price range that makes them relatively attainable. An important piece of the company’s motoryacht puzzle is the Swift Trawler line, which ranges from 34 to 52 feet long. All the boats in the series have a very livable design in line with their trawlerish ambitions, and they also are all, well, pretty swift, with top speeds encroaching beyond the 20-knot mark.

The newest member of the line is the 50, a boat that Beneteau believes will become quite popular due to her roominess and maneuverability. The second largest of the Swift Trawlers, the 50 will feature a large saloon, with an open, U-shaped galley a few steps up and forward. An amidships master is flush with natural light, while another area forward of that can either serve as another stateroom, or an office complete with an elevated berth for the captain.

Builder: Beneteau

Model: Swift Trawler 50

2012

LOA: 49'2"

Beam: 15'3"

Standard Power: 2/435-hp Volvo Penta IPS600s

Price: $899,900

Cruise speed: n/a

Top speed: 23 knots

Engines in twin configurations up to 435-horsepower each are matched to IPS pods for both slow- and high-speed maneuverability. They can be manned from one of the two helms—indoor and outdoor—making the 50 well suited to longer cruises where the weather may take a turn for the worse.

Keep an eye out for the 50 this fall at such events as the Baltimore TrawlerFest, Annapolis Power Boat Show, and of course, the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. She’s sure to draw a crowd.